The gift of travel is the greatest gift I have ever been given. My parents met when they were both flight attendants for Air Lanka (now Sri Lankan Airlines) growing up in the 1980’s. Due to their love of traveling, my brother and I grew up taking trips all over the world, seeing new things, appreciating various cultures, tasting new foods, and seeing so many natural wonders. You never understand how small your bubble is until you step out of it and look around a little. The world truly is so diverse and to really understand it, you must make it your stomping grounds. Yes, all seven continents of it!

I have been all over the world, from Spain to Dubai to Sri Lanka to Peru. Each country offered me something new and gave me a new outlook on life. In Spain , I saw the most amazing man-made structure I have ever seen- La Sagrada Familia. Its unfinished exterior boasted an exquisite charm and essence that took my breath away. In Dubai , I went off-roading in the desert, sailed a river, and rode a camel. Peru’s natural beauty easily made up for the sad fact I was missing my Senior Prom that very weekend (luckily my boyfriend understood!); its ocean was a mere 200 feet away from my hotel and the shopping mall across the way emulated the true hustle and bustle of the downtown life. When in England , I was greeted by the worst snow storm in eighteen years! Being an Orange County girl who had only seen snow twice before, watching snow fall at 2am was such a true delight, that I rushed outside to make a snowman! In Australia, I snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef with a wide array of fish, visiting the famous Sydney Harbor, and hanging out with some extra friendly kangaroos. Singapore manages to stay modern while simple at the same time; its high rise buildings and incredible malls truly show their western influence, but its own culture is apparent as well. I may be biased, but Sri Lanka is favorite place to visit. The little island off of the Southern coast of India has something to offer for everyone; its pristine beaches seem to remain untouched and unpolluted, you can spot leopards, elephants, and the like, on safaris, enjoy a freshly made cup of tea in the hills, release sea turtles into the ocean, or relax next to a river in the jungle. In fact, I am so in love with Sri Lanka that I plan to get married there. I’ve got the hotel planned out and everything, but that’s a whole other story…

All in all, the world has given me so many amazing stories to tell and experiences that I will never forget. I hope to tell them to my children and share the love of traveling with them. The world is truly a magnificent place and I encourage everyone to travel and try new things out. If it’s not possible, then step out of your city or your normal place of residence. You’ll be pleasantly surprised not only with what you find, but what you learn about yourself.

So, where is the one place you want to travel in the world?

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